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His accomplice Steven Roberts, 37, was described by prosecutors as the ‘man on the ground’.

He travelled to Barcelona on three occasions in October, November and December 2016, after ordering the drugs.

After Roberts purchased them in the Catalan city, Anthony Redmond, 59, and Michael Madden, 58, were responsible for transporting it back to the UK, the court heard.

Cannabis found in a suitcase which had been trafficked into the UK by the gang (GMP)

Their first two trips in 2016 were successful, but the third proved their downfall as they were stopped by Border Force.

Redmond, of Agecroft Road, Swinton; and Madden, of Beechfield Road, Swinton; were arrested and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import class B drugs.

Redmond was jailed for 20 months and Madden was sentenced to 11 months.

Around the same time, in late 2016, a drone was being used to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into Forest Bank.

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Police officers saw Daniel White, 31, and another man, Sean Tierney, parking their car in Drinkwater Park and then assembling a drone about 10 metres from the exterior wall of the prison.

On another occasion, as police tried to arrest Tierney, who got away, a bag which he had been seen to wear was recovered.

It contained a drone and two knotted socks, which contained 15 mobile phones, more than £21,000 worth of Spice, more than £2,700 of cannabis and at least £4,000 of steroids, according to what they could be worth in prison.

Items found in the bag recovered by police included a drone, 15 mobile phones, more than £21,000 worth of spice, more than £2,700 of cannabis and at least £4,000 of steroids

After the drone was analysed, police found it had been used on 41 recorded flights, including four flights over the perimeter fence at Forest Bank.

White, of Camponia Gardens, Salford, was jailed for three years and ten months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey articles into prison.

The cannabis recovered by Border Force officers as the gang arrived back in the UK (GMP)

After the sentencing on Tuesday, Detective Sergeant Colin Shackleton, of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Their well-oiled plan was brought to an abrupt end when the drugs were discovered in their car.

“They thought they could outsmart officers by crossing borders to obtain the drugs, but we’ve shown we’ve got the experience and skill to bring organised criminals like this to justice.

“With every conviction we’re a step closer to taking dangerous drugs off our street, but ensuring results like today relies on people sharing information about criminal activity in their area.”